‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ receives 9 out of 10 stars.
Opening in theaters on July 25th is ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’, which sees Marvel finally bringing one of their most famous comic book teams into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Directed by Matt Shakman (‘WandaVision’), the movie stars Pedro Pascal (‘The Last of Us’), Vanessa Kirby (‘The Crown’), Joseph Quinn (‘A Quiet Place: Day One’) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (‘The Bear’).
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Initial Thoughts
Given some recent big missteps, low box office returns for its movies and complaints about the interconnectedness of the Disney+ shows, the team behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe had its work cut out to prove that it still has what it takes to compete in the crowded comic book genre field.
Add to that the pressure to properly –– after two attempts of variable quality back when 20th Century Fox owned the rights –– introduce Marvel’s “First Family” to the MCU, and you have the recipe for one almighty stress headache.
Fortunately, in switching focus from an overloaded schedule and chaotically overstuffed character roster, the studio has found its feet again, with a movie that really works.
Script and Direction
Taking Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s work as their inspiration, the various writers who contributed to ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ (that would be Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan and newcomer Ian Springer) have managed to find a tone and a style of a peppy, retro-futuristic vision that both pays tribute to the characters’ 1960s comics origins and also feels like a fresh approach unmoored (at least until the end) from the wider universe.
Keeping the focus on the leads and ditching a labored repeat of the Four’s origin story (we’re introduced to the characters having already been through their traumatic encounter with cosmic radiation, the backstory helpfully filled in via a TV show about them and montages) proves to be a strength of the new movie, allowing more time for the cast to shine.
Also, this feels like a more human group, foibles and all, even if they have superpowers.
In directing terms, this is the most confident that Marvel has been in years, ‘WandaVision’ veteran Matt Shakman delivering a movie that has the feeling of being finely tooled rather than slapped together to meet a release date deadline.
From the visuals, whose effects feel finished and work for the world the movie portrays to the performances, which all blend together, this is a truly solid effort from the company.
If there are issues to be found, it’s in the creeping influence of the wider Marvel storyline –– it’s hard to truly feel threat when you know that the main cast will be back in future movies. Yes, that’s part and parcel for introductions, and no-one truly expects the company to bring in some of its most famous icons only to slaughter them, but the tropes are tropes for a reason.
But the journey this story takes remains much more enjoyable than the clumsily drawn and edited exploits of ‘Captain America: Brave New World’.
Cast and Performances
You might be feeling Pedro Pascal overload right now given the sheer amount of recent roles and pop cultural dominance, but there’s no doubting the humanity and sensitivity he brings to super-genius Reed Richards. This is a hero who, despite his incredible smarts, isn’t always as sure of himself as he might be, and impending fatherhood weighs heavy on him.
Pascal is suitably smooth when needed, but enjoyably nerdy.
He plays well off of Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm, who is better used than previous takes on the character and benefit from Kirby’s ability to bring life to a woman facing a big life change while embracing her abilities.
Joseph Quinn is an entertainingly endearing Johnny Storm, still a ladies’ man, but here much more well-rounded than the usual hunky version of the hero.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, helped by some excellent effects work, is a less tortured, more assured take on The Thing.
Around the leads, the world is filled out effectively by the threats: Ralph Ineson’s rumbling tones are put to good use as Galactus, while Julia Garner brings steely menace but also real heart to the role of Shalla-Bal, the Silver Surfer who heralds the arrival of her planet-munching master.
And the likes Mark Gatiss (as an enthusiastic TV host) and Paul Walter Hauser (as a fun, different take on Harvey Elder, the Mole Man of the comics), bring quality to smaller supporting roles.
Final Thoughts
Though the mid-credits scene feels the strain of setting up the next step in the Four’s adventures, it’s a minor issue for a movie that is well thought-out, purposefully designed and truly fun to watch.
If Marvel can keep up this level of quality over quantity going forward, the prospects are bright, as this is the most purely satisfying MCU effort since the heady days of ‘Avengers: Endgame’.
z9uHs9M5vfCiKZCJCNg4I6What’s the story of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’?
Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ introduces Marvel’s First Family — Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) as they face their most daunting challenge yet.
Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal…
Who is in the cast of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’?
- Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic
- Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman
- Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing
- Ralph Ineson as Galactus
- Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer
- Mark Gatiss as Ted Gilbert
- Sarah Niles as Lynne Nichols
- Paul Walter Hauser as Harvey Elder/Mole Man
List of ‘Fantastic Four’ Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (1967 – 1968)
- ‘The Fantastic Four‘ (1978)
- ‘The Fantastic Four‘ (1994)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (1994 – 1996)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (2005)
- ‘Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes‘ (2006 – 2007)
- ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer‘ (2007)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (2015)
- ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ (2025)
